The chemical composition and nutritive value of grass silages prepared with no additive or with the application of additives containing either Lactobacillus plantarum or formic acid

A mixture of perennial and hybrid ryegrasses(234 g DM kg^-1) was forage harvested and ensiled after a 24-h wilt in good ensiling conditions in 2-t capacity silos with no additive application (control) or with the application of either Lactobacillus plantarum , 4 × 10⁶ (g fresh weight of grass)^-1, or of 31 formic acid t^-1. Sufficient 2-kg capacity laboratory silos were also filled with grass to monitor the changes in chemical composition of the ensiled grass with time. In laboratory silos, inoculation with L. plantarum resulted in a more rapid fall in silage pH ( p < 0.001) and a more rapid production of lactic acid ( P < 0.001) than in the control silage. At the end of the storage period (laboratory silos, 80 d; 2-t silos, 200-300 d), the inoculated silos had lower pH ( p ammonia-N (g kg N¹) and acetic acid contents ( p < 0.01) and higher water soluble carbohydrate (WSC), lactic acid (P<00.1) and ethanol ( p < 0.05) contents than the control silage. The formic acid-treated silage had significantly lower contents of ammonia-N (g kg N^-1, p < 0.05), acetic and tactic acids (p<0.01) and higher contents of WSC and ethanol ( p < 0.01) than the control silage. When fed to wether sheep, the digestibilities of DM, organic matter and gross energy were not altered by additive treatment. The digestibility of modified acid-detergent fibre was lower for both the inoculated ( P < 0.01) and formic acid-treated silages ( p < 0.05). However, N retention was improved ( p < 0.05) by both additive treatments. Silage intake was improved ( p < 0.01) by additive treatment from 53.4 (control) to 58.0 (inoculated) and 60.4 (formic acid) g DM (kg live weight^0.75)^-1d^-1.     

Proteolysis and amino acid degradation during ensilage of untreated or formic acid-treated lucerne and maize

Lucerne ( Medicago sativa ), field wilted to 330 g dry matter (DM) kg⁻¹, and whole-plant maize ( Zea mays ), 383 g DM kg⁻¹, were treated with formic acid (FA) at the rate of 4-5 1 t⁻¹ fresh forage. The effects of FA treatment on proteolysis and amino acid degradation was investigated at several intervals over a 90-d period of ensilage in laboratory silos. Formic acid treatment produced different patterns of pH decline during ensilage of the two forages, suggesting some degree of crop specificity in response to FA treatment. After 7 d of ensilage of lucerne there were increases of 81% in nonprotein nitrogen (NPN), and 104% in free amino acid nitrogen (FAA-N), but with FA-treated lucerne the increases were 39% and 31%, respectively. FA treatment resulted in a reduction in the concentration of most free amino acids in lucerne silage, with the exception of glutamic acid and serine; the branched chain amino acids as well as glycine, tyrosine and proline were significantly (P<0·05) reduced after 3 d of ensilage. By contrast, FA treatment of maize did not significantly ( p <0·05) affect the NPN content nor was there a consistent pattern in the changes in FAA-N. Formic acid treatment of maize did produce a significant reduction ( P <0·05) in the concentration of most individual free amino acids at 90 d of ensilage. Overall, FA treatment had a more predictable effect on proteolysis and amino acid degradation in ensiled lucerne than in ensiled whole-plant maize.     

The effect of addition of sugar and inoculation with two commercial inoculants on the fermentation of lucerne silage in laboratory silos

Lucerne (DM 236 g kg^-1, WSC 49 g (kg DM)^-1) was ensiled in test-tube silos with or without either glucose or fructose and with or without one of two commercial inoculants. The WSC content of the forage as ensiled was too low to obtain a well preserved untreated silage. By day 4 the pH values of the silages with added sugar or inoculant were significantly lower (P< 0·001) than the control silage. A satisfactory fermentation was attained only in the silages to which sugar and an inoculant had been added. These silages had a lower pH, more protein-N (P< 0·001), less ammonia-N (P<0·001), a faster increase in counts of lactic acid bacteria, and decrease in counts of coliforms than the other silages. Homo-fermentative lactic acid bacteria dominated the fermentation in the inoculated silages while leuconostocs dominated the early stages of fermentation in the control silages. The results indicate that if there is insufficient sugar in the original crop, then the bacteria in an inoculant will not be able to produce enough lactic acid to lower the pH to an acceptable level. This has important implications for the ensilage of lucerne and other highly buffered low sugar crops.     

The effect upon fermentation and nutritive value of silages produced after treatment by three different inoculants of lactic acid bacteria applied alone or in combination

Silages were made from the first cut of a predominantly perennial ryegrass sward. The silages were either untreated (W) or treated with formic acid (31 t⁻¹, F) or with 10⁶ lactic acid bacteria (LAB) g⁻¹ grass of each of three strains alone (A. Lactobacillus plantarum MTD1; B, Pediococcus species 6A2; C, L. plantarum 6A6) or in combination (AB. AC) to give seven treatments. The silage fermentation in 10-kg silos was followed chemically and microbiologically and the nutritive value of selected treatments evaluated using 2-t silos.
The control silage (W) fermented well. Addition of formic acid restricted fermentation and produced a silage with a high ethanol concentration. After day 4, all inoculated silages had lower pH values and higher lactic acid concentrations and a higher ratio of lactic acid to acetic acid than the control silage. Chemically there was little difference between the inoculated silages in terms of final composition. Microbiologically the LAB applied in treatments B and C dominated the LAB populations in those silages when applied alone; however, they were suppressed when applied in combination with inoculant A.
When fed to sheep, the intake of the formic acid-treated silage was significantly ( P < 0·01) lower than that of the other silages and the intake of silage treated with inoculant A significantly ( P < 0·001) higher than that of silages treated with inoculants B and C. The apparent organic matter ( P < 0·001) and nitrogen ( P < 0·01) digestibilities of the formic acid-treated silage were also significantly lower than those of the other silages.     

Influence of bacterial inoculant and substrate addition to lucerne ensiled at different dry matter contents

Field-wilted lucerne was chopped with a forage harvester at 33 ± 1·5, 43 ± 2·0 and 54 ± 1·8% dry matter, treated and ensiled in laboratory silos during four cuttings in each of two years. Treatments were control (C), sugar addition at 2% of fresh weight (S), inoculum applied at 3 × 10⁵ bacteria g⁻¹ herbage (I), and sugar and inoculum combined (IS). Duplicate silos were opened and analysed after 1, 2, 3, (4 or 5), 7, 14 and 60 d of fermentation. The initial rate of proteolysis of lucerne protein decreased with increasing dry matter (DM) content of the lucerne, and was not influenced by the year, cutting or silage treatment. Inoculation increased ( P <0·05) the rate of pH decline for all silage dry matters, and shortened the lag time prior to pH decline with 33 and 43% dry matter silages. Sugar addition had no effect on rate of pH decline or lag time. Inoculation and sugar addition both lowered final pH, acetic acid, ammonia (NH₃), free amino acids (FAA) and soluble non-protein N (NPN) in silages ( P <0·01) and increased lactic acid content with 33 and 43% dry matter silages. Only inoculation was beneficial at 54% DM with no difference between I and IS. The influence of forage characteristics (epiphytic lactic acid bacteria, buffer capacity and sugar:buffer capacity ratio) on treatment effectiveness varied with dry matter content.     

Use of freshly cultured lactic acid bacteria as silage inoculants

The use of freshly cultured lactic acid bacteria in comparison with conventional freeze-dried preparations as inoculants for grass silage was examined. Perennial ryegrass was ensiled in laboratory silos, either untreated or treated with formic acid, or a commercial freeze-dried strain of Lactobacillus plantarum , or a fresh culture of the same strain of L. plantarum , or fresh cultures of Pediococcus pentosaceous , or Lactococcus lactis alone or in combination with L. plantarum. All inoculants were applied at a rate of 10⁶ colony-forming units g⁻¹ fresh matter, with the mixtures containing a 1:l ratio of each species. Herbage treated with freshly cultured inoculants exhibited shorter lag times, in relation to the initiation of pH decline, than those associated with untreated or freeze-dried inoculant-treated herbages. Treatment of herbage with inoculants containing L. plantarum increased the initial speed of pH decline. In comparison with silages made with freeze-dried L. plantarum , in measurements made during the initial 14 d of ensilage, those inoculated with fresh cultures bad significantly (P<0·05) higher lactic acid concentrations and significantly (P·0.05) lower pH values. Both P. pentosaceous and L. lactis initiated a rapid fermentation, but compared to L. plantarum alone, or mixtures of L. plantarum with P. pentosaceous or L. lactis , these cultures demonstrated intermediate rates of lactic acid production and pH decline. All mature (105 d) silages were of good quality with pH values of four or less, low ammonia-N concentrations (<100gkg⁻¹ total N) and no detectable levels of clostridia or butyric acid. Results suggested that the main advantage of freshly cultured inoculants over their freeze-dried counterparts may lie in their metabolic state when added to herbage.     

A comparison of formic acid and an acid-salt type additive on the performance of dairy cows in early lactation

Perennial ryegrass, harvested as second-cut material on 10 and 11 July 1990, was treated with either formic acid at 31 t^-1 or an acid-salt type additive at 61 t^-1 and ensiled in roofed 150 t bunker silos. Subsequently both silages underwent a predominantly lactic fermentation. Nevertheless the acid-salt-treated silage had a significantly higher quantity of formic acid (19 vs 12 g kg DM^-1) and significantly lower levels of lactic (98 vs 118 g kg DM^-1) and acetic acid (11 vs 17 g kg DM^-1) compared with formic acid-treated silage. In-silo losses and effluent production were similar.
Each silage was individually fed to 10 October-calving Friesian dairy cows (average weight 565 kg) from weeks 2 to 15 of lactation, together with 3 kg d^-1 of a compound feed containing 190 g kg DM^-1 crude protein and with an estimated metabolizable energy content of 12·6 MJ kg DM^-1. The acid-salt additive had no significant effect on silage DM intake, daily milk yield, milk protein or cow liveweight change, but significantly increased milk butterfat content compared with formic acid-treated silage.
It is concluded that the acid-salt type additive produced little difference in terms of either silage fermentation or animal performance compared with formic add treatment.     

Effect of herbage water-soluble carbohydrate content and weather conditions at ensilage on the fermentation of grass silages made on commercial farms

A total of 1009 samples of silage made in bunker silos on commercial farms between 1972 and 1978 was analysed to investigate the effect of herbage water-soluble carbohydrate content (WSC) and weather conditions at ensilage on fermentation as measured by ammonia-N concentration and pH of first-cut grass silages.
Silage dry matter (DM) content had the major effect on fermentation. Factors influencing silage DM were rainfall and hours of sunshine during silage making, and DM content of the grass cut. WSC content of herbage ensiled also had a significant effect on subsequent fermentation. The major influences on herbage WSC were hours of sunshine and rainfall during the growing season.
The effect of chemical additives, albeit at poorly defined and often inadequate rates, was small in comparison to that of silage DM.
The minimum DM necessary to produce well-fermented silage without additive was approximately 260 g kg⁻¹. Use of formic acid significantly reduced this requirement to 240 g kg⁻¹ and to 252 g kg⁻¹ for sulphuric add + formalin. The results indicate that the minimum herbage WSC necessary to prevent a clostridial fermentation developing in silage with a DM content of 230 g kg⁻¹ is approximately 37 g kg⁻¹ without additive and 30 g kg⁻¹ with formic acid.
It is concluded that on commercial farms, weather conditions i.e. amount of rainfall and sunshine prior to and at ensilage, have a greater effect on subsequent silage fermentation than additive use.     

Protein supplementation of formic acid- and enzyme-treated silages. 2. Nitrogen and amino acid digestion

Two silages were made from primary growth perennial ryegrass and ensiled after the application of either formic acid or an enzyme mixture of cellulase and hemicellulase. Silage analysis showed both silages to be well preserved with low pH of 3·70 and 3·62 for the formic and enzyme treatments respectively. Formic acid-treated silage had a higher total amino acid concentration than enzyme-treated silage. The silages were offered to growing steers either as the sole diet or supplemented with rapeseed meal at 60 g or 120 g fresh weight kg⁻¹ silage DM offered, in a 6 × 6 Latin square arrangement.
Non-ammonia nitrogen and microbial nitrogen flows at the duodenum (g d⁻¹) were significantly ( P < 0·05) increased by supplementation of enzyme-treated silage compared with formic acid-treated silage (enzyme, 83·6, 58·7; enzyme + 60 g, 101·7, 75·3; enzyme + 120 g, 112·5, 80·7; formic, 91·9, 63·7; formic + 60g, 88·3, 67·9; formic + 120 g, 95·5, 67·1) respectively. Efficiencies of microbial protein synthesis were increased for supplemented enzyme-treated silage diets and values were reduced for supplemented formic acid-treated silage diets compared with the silage only diets (enzyme, 27·9; enzyme + 60 37·7; enzyme + 120 g, 38·6; formic, 33·7; formic + 60g, 31·2; formic + 120 g, 28·8). Total amino acid flow at the duodenum increased with supplementation of both silages; however, microbial amino acid flow increased significantly ( P < 0·05) with supplementation of enzyme-treated silage compared with formic acid-treated silage diets. Significantly greater amounts of cystine, methionine, alanine, valine and aspartic acid entered the small intestines of animals receiving supplemented enzyme silages compared with supplemented formic acid silages.     

Enzymes as silage additives. 1. Silage quality, digestion, digestibility and performance in growing cattle

Four grass silages were made from perennial ryegrass ensiled after a 1h wilt in 2-t silos without additive application, with application of formic acid or with one of two enzyme mixtures of hemicellulases and cellulases (enzyme 1 and enzyme 2). Effluent losses were monitored over the ensiling period (130 d).
Analyses of the silage showed that formic acid-treated silage had lower concentrations of lactic acid than the other silages. Both enzyme-treated silages had lower levels of cellulose, acid detergent fibre (ADF) and neutral-detergent fibre (NDF) than the untreated and formic acid treated silages. Effluent production was highest with enzyme-treated silages.
The silages were subsequently fed to growing steers equipped with rumen cannulae and T-piece duodenal cannulae. Apparent whole-tract digestibilities of organic matter constituents were significantly lower ( P < 0·05) with both enzyme-treated silages (untreated; 0·736, formic acid; 0·722, enzyme 1; 0·694, enzyme 2; 0·703). Both untreated and enzyme 2-treated silages sustained higher nitrogen digestibilities (g g⁻¹ intake) (untreated; 0·675, formic acid; 0·636, enzyme 1; 0·630, enzyme 2; 0·662) and N retentions (g d⁻¹) untreated; 16·0, formic acid; 14·0, enzyme 1; 11·6, enzyme 2; 16·6), but none of these differences was significant. When formic acid-treated silage was offered, there was a greater amount of organic matter apparently digested in the rumen (ADOMR). Non-ammonia nitrogen and microbial nitrogen flows at the duodenum were similar on all diets. The efficiency of microbial protein synthesis was highest with enzyme 2-treated silage and lowest with formic acid-treated silage (untreated, 35·4; formic acid, 25·2; enzyme 1, 30·4; enzyme 2, 39·4), but none of these differences were significant.     

Cell wall degrading enzymes for silage. 2. Aerobic stability of enzyme-treated laboratory silages

The effects of two commercial cellulase/hemicellulase enzymes derived from Trichoderma reesei on silage fermentation and aerobic stability were investigated in three laboratory-scale experiments. In Experiment 1, perennial ryegrass ( Lolium perenne ) was treated with enzyme A at the rates of 0. 0·125, 0·250, 0·500 and 0·750 cm³ kg^-1. In Experiment 2, Italian ryegrass ( Lolium multiflorum ) was treated with the same enzyme at the rates of 0, 0·250 and 0·500 cm³ kg^-1 and with 85% formic acid (3·5 cm³ kg^-1). In Experiment 3, perennial ryegrass was ensiled untreated, with enzyme A (0·250 and 0·500 cm³ kg^-1) and with 0·200 and 0·400 cm³ kg^-1 enzyme B which also contained glucose oxidase. All silages were well preserved. Aerobic deterioration was related to numbers of lactate assimilating yeasts. In Experiment 1, all silages were stable over a 4-day period. In Experiment 2, enzyme A treatment delayed the temperature rise compared with the untreated control ( P <0·05), whereas the formic acid-treated silage was stable. In Experiment 3, the temperature rise in the silage treated with the higher level of enzyme B occurred one day later than in the other silages ( P <0·05).     

Growth performance, appetite and plasma ammonia concentrations in heifers fed inoculated lucerne prior to ensilage, then supplemented with sodium bicarbonate

A study was conducted to explore the possibility of a synergistic effect of an inoculum of lactic acid bacteria and sodium bicarbonate in improving the nutritive value of lucerne silage. Twenty Holstein heifers (live weight 183 ± 9·4 kg) were assigned to four dietary treatments consisting of: lucerne uninoculated or inoculated prior to ensilage and then either unsupplemented or supplemented with NaHCO₃ (40 g kg⁻¹ dry matter (DM)). The lucerne silage contained 320 g kg⁻¹ DM and constituted 600 kg⁻¹ diet DM. The animals were fed once daily for 90 d and samples of jugular blood were analysed for plasma ammonia and indices of blood acid-base status. Inoculation of Lucerne reduced ( P <0·01) silage pH but had no other effect on silage composition. In the absence of NaHCO₃, liveweight gain and organic matter intake were improved by inoculating lucerne prior to ensilage; however, in the presence of NaHCO₃, inoculation reduced growth rate but had no major effect on intake. Dietary treatment did not (P>0·05) affect the concentration of plasma ammonia or measures bf blood acid-base status. The results suggest that NaHCO₃ may have nullifled any potential benefit of inoculating lucerne silage to improve its nutritive value for heifers.     

Microscopic and chemical changes during the first 22 days in Italian ryegrass and cocksfoot silages made in laboratory silos

Although many aspects of grass silage have received intensive study, the changes that take place within the grass blades during ensilage have received little attention.
In two factorial experiments Italian ryegrass (cv. Lemtal) and cocksfoot (indigenous) were ensiled in laboratory silos (capacity 0·2 kg) with the grass under pressure (700 Pa) and subjected to two treatments (with or without 3·31 t^-1 85% formic acid) and two silos from each treatment opened on eight sampling dates(1,2,3,4,7,10,14 and 21 d).
For each sampling date transverse sections of grass laminae were examined and changes in the cross sections of the protoplasts and of cells, as defined by the cell walls, were recorded. These data were used to calculate the ratios of protoplast to cell volumes at each sampling date.
Each silage was analysed for dry matter, pH, lactic acid, VFA, ammonia and glucose. The distance settled by the silage (a measure of decrease in silage volume) and the silage conductivity were also recorded.
Both of the untreated grasses yielded silages with typical lactic acid levels and pH values. In all of the silages there was a marked shrinkage of the plast within the space defined by the cell wall. The ratio of protoplast to cell volume eventually stabilized at 0·4. The formic acid-treated grasses reached this level by day 1 but a longer period was required by untreated grasses.
It is suggested that the decrease in silage volume is related to the lactic acid content of the liquid phase due to their close relationship in silages produced from untreated grasses ( r = 0·97***).     

RESEARCH NOTE

Data from twenty-two experiments conducted at tour ADAS Research Centres during 1980–92 were used to compare untreated silages with silages treated with formic acid, with or without added formalin, commercial inoculants or molasses. The sillages were made from herbage whose dry-matter (DM) and water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC) contents were 277 (s.e. 0.46) g DM kg⁻¹ and 36 (s.e. 8.1) g kg⁻¹ respectively. Inoculant use significantly decreased silage pH and ammonia-N, significantly increased lactic acid and total acid content, and decreased butyric acid and total short-chain fatty acids. Formic acid use significantly increased silage lactic acid and total acid content, and decreased butyric acid content, whereas formic acid+formalin significantly decreased silage ammonia-N level. Molasses had little effect upon silage fermentation. Improvements in silage fermentation, however, produced little benefit in terms of either silage DM intake or liveweight gain when the silages were offered to growing lambs.
It is suggested from the results that inoculant- and formic acid-based additives can be used to improve the fermentation of big-bale silages.     

An evaluation of three bacterial inoculants and formic acid as additives for first harvest grass

An experiment was carried out during 1984 to study the effect of treating grass at ensiling with three commercially available inoculant-type additives (H/M Inoculant, Grass Sile and Siron), formic acid (850 g kg⁻¹; Add-F) or no additive on grass preservation, in-silo loss, intake and animal performance. Primary growth grass ensiled from 28–29 May into concrete-walled covered silos was of high dry matter (DM, 234 g kg⁻¹), water-soluble carbohydrate content (WSC. 212 g kg DM⁻¹) and digestibility (MADF, 250 g kg DM⁻¹).
The untreated silage displayed good preservation and with the exception of the Sirontreated silage which showed significantly lower buffering capacity (Be) and volatile fatty acid (VFA) contents than the untreated silage, the application of inoculant-type additives did not improve silage preservation or decrease in-silo DM losses. The formic acid-treated silage displayed significantly lower Be, water-soluble carbohydrate, ash, ammonia nitrogen (g kg total N⁻¹) and lactate contents than the untreated silage.
After a 133 d storage period, silages were offered to finishing beef cattle for an 84-d period. Cattle offered the silages displayed similar and non-significant daily DM intakes, daily liveweight gains, dressing proportions and daily carcass gains. From this experiment it appears unlikely that any of the additives evaluated will improve animal performance relative to a well-preserved untreated silage.     

Enzymes as silage additives for grass–clover mixtures

Seven laboratory-scale experiments were carried out to study the effects of cellulases/hemicellulases on silage fermentation of herbage from mixed swards of timothy ( Phleum pratense ), meadow fescue ( Festuca pratensis ) and red clover ( Trifolium pretense ). Enzyme-treated silage (approximately 3500 HEC units kg⁻¹ grass) reached a low pH sooner, had lower end pH, contained less NH₃-N and more lactic acid than did the untreated silage ( P < 0·05). Applied with an inoculant, these effects were even stronger. With easily ensiled crops (experiments 1, 2, 5 and 6) preservation was first of all improved by inoculation of lactic acid bacteria; however, for the low-sugar crops (experiments 3, 4 and 7) enzyme treatment was more significant. The enzymes derived from Aspergillus spp. gave more acetic acid than the enzymes from Trichoderma reesei. The Trichoderma enzymes liberated 4·8 g WSC kg⁻¹ FM gamma-irradiated grass during 60 d at pH 4·3 ( P < 0·05). On average, for all silages enzyme treatment increased the sum of residual sugar and fermentation products by 3·7 g kg⁻¹ FM (21 g kg⁻¹ DM) compared with the silages not treated with enzymes ( P < 0·001). Enzyme treatment increased the instantly degradable part of the feed, but total in sacco and in vitro digestibilities were not affected.     

Cell wall degrading enzymes for silage. 1. The fermentation of enzyme-treated ryegrass in laboratory silos

The effects of two commercial cellulase/hemicellulase enzymes derived from Trichoderma reesei on silage fermentation were investigated in three laboratory-scale experiments. In Experiment 1, perennial ryegrass ( Lolium perenne ) was treated with enzyme A at the rates of 0, 0·125, 0·250, 0·500 and 0·750 cm³ kg^-1. In Experiment 2, Italian ryegrass ( Lolium multiflorum ) was treated with the same enzyme at the rates of 0, 0·250 and 0·500 cm³ kg^-1 and with 85% formic acid (3·5 cm³ kg^-1). In Experiment 3, perennial ryegrass was ensiled untreated, with enzyme A (0·250 and 0·500 cm³ kg^-1) and with 0·200 and 0·400 cm³ kg^-1 enzyme B which also contained glucose oxidase. All silages were well preserved. In general enzyme treatment reduced pH and the contents of ammonia nitrogen, neutral detergent fibre and acid detergent fibre, whereas the contents of water-soluble carbohydrates, acetic acid, lactic acid and ethanol were increased.     

Determination of microbial protein in perennial ryegrass silage

The microbial matter fraction was determined in perennial ryegrass silages of different dry-matter (DM) contents, ensiled with or without Lactobacillus plantarum . ¹⁵N-Leucine and the bacterial cell wall constituent diaminopimelic acid (DAPA) were used as markers for microbial-N. Perennial ryegrass crops with DM contents of 202, 280 or 366 g kg⁻¹ fresh weight were ensiled in laboratory-scale silos and stored for 3 to 4 months. At different times after ensiling, silages were analysed and microbial fractions were isolated. Microbial-N concentration determined with ¹⁵N-leucine reached a maximum during the first week of ensilage. It remained unchanged thereafter, except in silage with a DM content of 280 g kg⁻¹ in which it decreased ( P  < 0·01) by 32% during storage. After 3 to 4 months ensilage, microbial-N concentration varied from ≈0·3 to ≈1·7 g kg⁻¹ DM. A negative relationship was observed between microbial-N concentration and silage DM content. Inoculation resulted in an approximately twofold increase ( P  < 0·001) in microbial-N concentration. Microbial-N concentrations determined with DAPA were 1·14–2·07 times higher than those determined with ¹⁵N-leucine. However, 19–35% of the DAPA in silage occurred in a soluble form, indicating that this fraction of DAPA was not associated with intact bacteria.     

Evaluation studies in the development of a commercial bacterial inoculant as an additive for grass silage

Two 2×2 factorial experiments are described in which a bacterial inoculant being developed as a silage additive and containing a strain of Lacto-bacillus plantarum (Ecosyl, ICI plc) was evaluated at two harvests (18 July and 30 September 1985) of two swards (perennial ryegrass and permanent pasture) in difficult ensiling conditions. On each occasion erbage was ensiled with and without inoculant using two 0·5–t capacity steel tower silos per treatment. The contents of the two replicate silos per treatment were combined for feeding to cross-bred wethers in digestibility and metabolizable energy (ME) partition studies.
Overall, inoculated herbage declined in pH post-harvest at a faster rate than control herbage (p<0·001) and three out of the four inoculated silages had lower pH, ammonia-N, acetate and alcohol and higher residual soluble carbohydrate content (p<0·001) than control. Significantly higher digestibility of nutrients (P<0·05) was found in three of the inoculant-treated silages and these also had significantly higher ME values than control (P<0·001), (10·58 and 8·77 MJ kg tol DM⁻¹ for the treated and untreated silages respectively). The use of inoculant on herbage of only moderate ensiling potential therefore, produced significant improvements in fermentation quality and feeding value over control.     

Ensiling of manured crops—effects on fermentation

The quality of silage from crops fertilized with cattle manure and an inorganic fertilizer was compared in experiments from 1985 to 1989. Manure was spread either as farmyard manure (FYM, 25t ha⁻¹) or as slurry (20-50t ha⁻¹). Crops were direct cut (approximately 200 g DM kg⁻¹) or wilted (approximately 300 g DM kg⁻¹), precision chopped and ensiled in experimental silos. Silage was treated with 4 kg 85% fonnic acid t⁻¹ fresh matter (FM), an inoculant or no additives. The use of manure, particularly FYM, resulted in more Bacillus spores on crops at harvest compared with fertilized crops. Clostridium spores increased as a result of manuring in 1989 only on FYM-treated crops. Differences in the chemical composition of crops were usually small between fertilizer treatments. The quality of silage from slurry-dressed crops, compared with that of silage from fertilized crops, varied between years. The FYM resulted in reduced silage quality, i.e. high pH values (> 4·5), high ammonia N (> 150 g kg⁻¹ total N) and butyric acid (> 6·3 g kg⁻¹ water) concentrations, and high numbers of Bacillus (10⁵ g⁻¹ FM) and Clostridium spores (10⁵ g⁻¹ FM). The concentration of lactic acid was low (≤ 12 g kg⁻¹ water). Wilting and additives generally improved silage quality and reduced the differences between treatments. However, the efficiency of the inoculant on farmyard manured crops was limited.